Container with a non-drip pouring lip

ABSTRACT

A container having a body portion ( 10 ) and a dispensing opening, a neck ( 14 ) surrounding said dispensing opening, the neck having a rim ( 20 ), an inner neck surface ( 18 ) and an outer neck surface ( 16 ), and a drip minimizing member ( 32, 68 ) extending inwardly over a portion of the dispensing outlet, the member being located proximate the rim ( 20 ), the member terminating in a sharp edge ( 34, 70 ) to minimize dripping when pouring from the container.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to containers and more particularly,relates to means for minimizing dripping when pouring a fluid from acontainer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of a pouring aid is well known in the art and such devices havebeen widely used in the pouring of various fluids. In particular,pouring aids to minimize dripping have been widely used for thedispensing of wine and the like.

One approach which has been taken to minimize dripping is the use of apouring spout which mounts on the neck of a container. While suchpouring spouts have gained a certain degree of acceptance, some stillsuffer from the disadvantage of allowing drips or drops to form when thecontainer is raised upright after the dispensing step. In order toovercome this, various proposals have been advanced in the artincluding, for example, a pouring spout, such as shown in U.S. Pat. No.6,352,179 wherein the pouring spout is placed in the container neck andthere is provided a channel for the drips or drops to flow back into thecontainer.

A still further approach is that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,651,481wherein a piece of flexible and elastic foil material having a circularconfiguration is rolled up and inserted in the neck of the bottle. Thematerial, due to its elasticity, will fill the dispensing opening andform a tube shaped outlet spout. As the material is relatively thin,dripping is minimized.

With all of the above pouring aids, the user must have the pouring aidinserted in the neck of the container. Naturally, it would be desirableto have the container itself formed with a means for minimizingdripping.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to providecontainer structures and arrangements wherein the formation of dripssubsequent to pouring is minimized.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided acontainer having a body portion and a dispensing opening, a necksurrounding the dispensing opening, the neck having a rim, an inner necksurface, and an outer neck surface, and a drip minimizing memberextending inwardly over a portion of the dispensing outlet, the memberterminating in a sharp edge to thereby minimize dripping when pouring.

In a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided acontainer having a body portion and a dispensing opening, a necksurrounding the dispensing opening, the neck having an inner necksurface, an outer neck surface, and a rim extending between the innerneck surface and the outer neck surface, an outwardly extending flangeformed on the inner surface of the neck, the flange extending inwardlyand terminating in a sharp edge, the flange being located proximate therim.

The present invention utilizes an inwardly extending portion whichfunctions as a drip minimizer. As will be discussed in greater detailhereinbelow; a number of different types of arrangement may be providedin order to minimize the drips.

As used herein, the term “rim” means the top surface of the neck. Thesharp edge which functions to minimize dripping may be formed indifferent manners. Thus, a portion of the member may be tapered to formsuch a sharp edge or the portion may be thin enough to function as thesame. Actually, a sharp edge can vary in its thickness. The sharpnesscan depend upon the product being poured and preferably, the edge is assharp as can be obtained without causing an injury threat to the user.Preferably, the edge would not have a thickness greater than 3millimeters and ever more preferably, would have a thickness less than0.15 millimeters.

The necessary edge sharpness may be achieved by having merging walls orin the case of a foil, the material forming the foil can itself have therequired thickness.

Preferably, the material forming the drip minimizing portion is of ahydrophobic nature.

In the embodiment wherein there is provided an inwardly extending flangeon the inner neck surface, the container is preferably formed of a PETmaterial. Such containers are commonly used for colas and the like. Theflange may be formed either at the stage where the bottle is a preformor alternatively, after the bottle has been blown.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Having thus generally described the invention, reference will be made tothe accompanying drawings illustrating an embodiment thereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is a cut-away perspective view of the upper portion of acontainer having a neck and a cap member;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the upper portion thereof with thecap being in place;

FIG. 3 is cut-away perspective view of a further embodiment of acontainer neck and closure;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view thereof;

FIG. 5 is a cut-away perspective view similar to FIG. 3 illustrating adifferent type of closure;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view thereof;

FIG. 7 is a cut-away perspective view of the neck and closure of adifferent type of a container;

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view thereof;

FIG. 9 is a cut-away perspective view of a further embodiment of acontainer neck similar to that shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view thereof;

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view of a further embodiment of a closureabout a container neck;

FIG. 12 is a cut-away perspective view of a still further embodiment ofa container neck and closure therefor;

FIG. 13 is a cross sectional view thereof;

FIG. 14 is a cross sectional view of a still further embodiment of acontainer neck and closure therefor;

FIG. 15 is a cross sectional view of a portion of a container neckincorporating an integrally formed drip minimizing member;

FIG. 16 is a view similar to FIG. 15 illustrating a further embodiment;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a different type of a container havinga ring member about the rim;

FIGS. 18 to 20 illustrate different embodiments of the ring member;

FIG. 21 is a cross sectional view of the neck portion of a still furtherdifferent type of container;

FIG. 22 is a cross sectional view of a container and integrated closure;

FIG. 23 is a view similar to FIG. 22 illustrating a further embodimentthereof;

FIG. 24 is a cross sectional view of a container neck and a dripminimizing arrangement therefor; and

FIG. 25 is a perspective view illustrating a still further embodiment ofthe present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings in greater detail and by reference charactersthereto, it should initially be noted that since many differentembodiments are disclosed herein, similar reference numerals are usedfor similar components although the appearance of the components maydiffer slightly. Thus, for example, in many of the embodiments, a singlereference numeral will be utilized for the neck portion of the containeralthough different configurations of necks are illustrated.

In FIG. 1, there is illustrated an upper portion of a container 10 andwhich container 10 includes a lower neck generally designated byreference numeral 12 and an upper neck generally designated by referencenumeral 14. Upper neck 14 includes a neck outer surface 16, a neck innersurface 18 and a rim 20 extending therebetween.

Provided on the neck outer surface 16 are a plurality of outer threads22. A cap 24 has a top wall 26 and a downwardly depending side wall 28.On the interior surface of side wall 28 are a plurality of screw threads30 designed to sealingly engage threads 22 on neck 14.

A drip minimizing member 32 comprises an annular ring which has aninwardly directed sharp edge 34 and is sealingly engaged with rim 20.Although drip minimizing member 32 is illustrated as extendingcompletely about rim 20, there may be provided a shorter segment of dripminimizing member 32 extending around only a portion of the rim if sodesired.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, a cover 38 is provided on top ofdrip minimizing member 32. Cover 38 may be utilized with or without cap24.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6, a cover 40 seats directly on rim 20.In this embodiment, cover 40 is comprised of an inner central portion 44and an outer drip minimizing portion 46. A line of weakening 42 isprovided therebetween. A tab member 45 is connected to inner portion 44such that upon the removal thereof, there only remains outer dripminimizing portion 46 on rim 20.

Reference will now be had to the embodiments of FIGS. 7 to 14, all ofwhich are similar, but illustrate different means of providing a dripminimizing portion or member.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8, the container neck illustrated isthat which is typical of a wine bottle or the like. Mounted within theneck is an inner sealing element 52 which usually will be a cork or alike member. Surrounding the neck portion there is provided an outerneck cover 48. Situated on top of outer neck cover 48 is a top cover 50.

In this arrangement, the inner sealing element 52 is typically removedby a cork screw or like member. In so doing, cover 50 is removed while adrip minimizing portion 54 is lifted up from neck cover 48 and forms apouring lip for minimizing drips when pouring a liquid from thecontainer.

As will be appreciated, at least the upper portion of neck cover 48 isformed of a deformable material so as to permit the same to take theform illustrated in FIG. 7 which illustrates the shape following removalof the inner sealing member 52. Such materials including foil are wellknown in the art.

A similar embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 9 except that there isprovided an outer cover 56 with a tear strip 58 formed thereon to permitremoval of top cover 50. In all other respect, this embodiment functionsin the same manner as previously described.

In the embodiment of FIG. 10, a similar arrangement is illustratedexcept that outer member 60 does not have a tear strip formed therein.Depending upon the material, outer member 60 may be removed separatelyof as part of the removal of inner sealing element 52.

In the embodiment of FIG. 11, a very similar arrangement is shown exceptthat neck cover 62 is shorter than neck cover 48 in the previouslydescribed embodiments.

In the embodiment of FIG. 12, a tear strip 58 is provided for outercover 60.

FIG. 13 illustrates a similar arrangement except that no tear strip isprovided.

In the embodiment of FIG. 14, a drip minimizing member 64 similar tothat shown in FIG. 1 is utilized with an outer cover 60 therefor. Thisfunctions in the same manner in that removal of inner sealing member 52will cause deformation of drip minimizing member 64 in a manner similarto that described with respect to FIG. 7.

A different embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 15 wherein a neck portion14 has threads 22 formed thereon. However, an inwardly extending flangegenerally designated by reference numeral 68 is formed at the rim ofneck 14. Thus, as may be seen, there is provided a downwardly andinwardly slanting wall 72 extending inwardly from rim 20 and terminatingin a sharp edge 70.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 16, a groove 74 is provided withinneck inner surface 18 proximate rim 20 to thereby provide an edge whichwill minimize drips when pouring.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 17 to 20, there is provided a containergenerally designated by reference numeral 76 which is typical of thosestoring a product such as paint. A ring member 78 is provided to seat ontop of container 76 which includes a circular side wall 80.

As may be best seen in FIGS. 18, 19 and 20, different arrangements maybe provided to minimize dripping. Container 76, as previously mentioned,has a circular side wall 80 with an inwardly extending flange 82terminating in a U-shaped member 84. Vertical wall 86 forms a portion ofU-shaped member 84.

Ring member 78 includes a side wall 88 and a top wall 90 whichterminates in a sharp edge 92. A bulging portion 94 is designed to seatagainst the rim of side wall 80 to retain member 78 in position.

In the embodiment of FIG. 19, there is provided a U-shaped member 91which is designed to fit within U-shaped portion 84. A lip portion 92 isa formed of a relatively thin material to provide the required pouringedge.

In the embodiment of FIG. 20, there is provided an upper member whichincludes a top wall 90 with a downwardly descending retaining leg 96.Again, a sharp edge 92 provides the drip minimizing portion.

In the embodiment of FIG. 21, a spout 98 has external threads 100 formedthereon. There is provided an inwardly extending flange 102 which mayalso form a portion of a tear ring for sealing spout 98. Flange 102terminates in a sharp edge 104.

In the embodiment of FIG. 22, there is provided a container having aside wall 106 with a cap 108 connected thereto by means of a livinghinge 110. There is provided an inwardly extending member 112 whichterminates in a sharp edge 114.

A similar embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 23 with a cover 116 beingformed integral with member 112. A tab portion 118 is provided forremoving cover 116.

In the embodiment of FIG. 24, there is provided a member 118 which has atop wall 120 and a downwardly extending side wall 122. Downwardlyextending side wall 122 has a plurality of flanges 124 designed to sealagainst neck inner surface 18. Top portion 120 terminates in a sharppouring edge 126.

In the embodiment of FIG. 25 there is provided a roll of tape 128 whichmay be placed about the rim of a container to form both a side wallportion 130 and an inwardly extending pouring lip 132. The materialforming tape 128 is sufficiently thin and rigid to minimize drips whenpouring from the container.

1. A container having a body portion (10) and a dispensing opening, aneck (14) surrounding said dispensing opening, said neck having a rim(20), an inner neck surface (18), and an outer neck surface (16), and adrip minimizing member (32, 68) extending inwardly over a portion ofsaid dispensing outlet, said member being located proximate said rim,said member terminating in a sharp edge (34, 70) to thereby minimizedripping when pouring.
 2. The container of claim 1 wherein said member(32) is secured to said rim (20).
 3. The container of claim 2 whereinsaid member (32) is sealingly engaged with said rim (20).
 4. Thecontainer of claim 1 wherein said container (10) has a cover (40)secured to said rim (20), an inner portion (44) of said cover (40) beingremovable to thereby leave an outer portion (46) secured to said rim,said outer portion (46) terminating in a sharp inward edge to minimizedripping when pouring.
 5. The container of claim 1 further including acap member (24) screw threadably engaged with said neck (14).
 6. Thecontainer of claim 1 wherein said container includes an outer component(48) extending about an exterior portion of said neck (14) and extendinginwardly of said rim, said inwardly extending portion (54) forming saiddrip minimizing member.
 7. The container of claim 6 wherein saidcontainer includes a sealing component (52) inserted in said neck (14),the arrangement being such that upon extraction of said sealingcomponent (52), said drip minimizing portion (54) is deformed upwardlyto form a pouring lip.
 8. The container of claim 7 wherein said sealingmember (52) comprises a cork like element.
 9. A container having a bodyportion and a dispensing opening, a neck (14) surrounding saiddispensing opening, said neck having an inner neck surface (18), anouter neck surface (16), and a rim (20) extending between said innerneck surface and said outer neck surface, an inwardly extending flange(68) formed on said inner surface of said neck, said flange extendinginwardly and terminating in a sharp edge (70), said flange being locatedproximate said rim (20).
 10. The container of claim 1 wherein saidinwardly extending flange (68) forms a portion of cover extending acrosssaid dispensing opening, the arrangement being such that when thecentral portion of said cover is removed, said inwardly extending flange(68) remains.
 11. The container of claim 10 further including a cap(108) mounted over said dispensing opening.
 12. The container of claim 1wherein said drip minimizing member comprises tape (122) secured aboutsaid rim (20), said tape having a sidewall portion (130) and an inwardlyextending pouring lip (132).